This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers, click the "Reprints" link at the bottom of any article.

January 4, 2013

Top Portfolio Products: Samson Launches Currency Fund

Gemini, Arrow partner to roll out ETF trust; more

New products introduced over the last week include the STRONG Nations Currency Fund from Samson Capital Advisors.

In addition, Gemini Fund Services and Arrow Investment Advisors partnered in the launch of the Northern Lights ETF Trust, Pioneer launched Class K shares for some of its funds for use by group retirement plans, and AdvisorShares launched a new actively managed business cycle ETF.

Here are the latest developments of interest to advisors:

1) Samson Capital Advisors Launches STRONG Nations Currency Fund

Samson Capital Advisors LLC recently announced the launch of its first mutual fund, the Samson STRONG Nations Currency Fund (SCRFX), which seeks to generate positive returns with limited drawdowns over full market cycles through investments in currencies, securities, and instruments that are associated with strong nations. Jonathan Lewis, managing principal and chief investment officer, is the lead manager. Iraj Kani, Ph.D., principal and quantitative strategist, is co-manager.

SCRFX focuses on the currencies of nations with healthier and freer economies, societies ruled by law, with greater transparency and efficiency in their governance. It seeks to break down the barriers between emerging market and developed market currencies. It will also seek to hedge foreign currency exposures back into the dollar during periods of dollar rally. It is available directly to investors through both the Schwab and Pershing platforms, and can also be purchased through advisors.

2) Gemini, Arrow Partner to Launch Northern Lights ETF Trust

Gemini Fund Services LLC and Arrow Investment Advisors LLC have teamed up to launch the Northern Lights ETF Trust (NLET), a shared fund trust designed to bring news ETFs to market. NLET will provide benefits to advisors similar to Gemini’s shared fund trusts for mutual funds, and will be composed of independent ETFs managed by separate investment advisors. Like Gemini’s shared mutual fund trusts, NLET will provide ETF advisors with operational efficiencies and economies of scale they would not be able to achieve on their own.

On May 8, 2012, Arrow launched NLET’s first ETF, the Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (GYLD), which seeks investment results corresponding to the price and yield performance of the Dow Jones Global Composite Yield Index (before fees and expenses). Gemini and Arrow will partner with other advisers to create additional ETFs within NLET.

Pioneer Investments announced Wednesday the launch of a new low-cost Class K share designed for inclusion in certain qualified defined contribution group retirement plans. These shares are designed for defined contribution plans that are precluded from investing in mutual fund shares with Rule 12b-1 fees or subtransfer agency fees as part of the expense ratio. Class K shares are intended for 401(k) and other ERISA-defined contribution plans that trade omnibus with the fund at the plan sponsor level. For qualified plans, there are no minimum purchase requirements. Class K shares also will be available to certain direct institutional investors with an initial investment of at least $5 million.

AdvisorShares announced recently that the Pring Turner Business Cycle ETF (DBIZ) opened for trading on Dec. 19. DBIZ is subadvised by Pring Turner Capital Group, a Walnut Creek, Calif.-based investment advisor. Its investment objective is to seek long-term growth and capital appreciation across all economic and market cycles though a disciplined decision-making process that employs fundamental, technical and business cycle analysis.

The portfolio manager organizes the business cycle into six stages that determine how DBIZ proactively allocates its investment capital among multiple asset classes including stocks, bonds, inflation-sensitive securities and cash. As economic and market landscapes shift, DBIZ adapts and identifies market sectors and individual securities that have historically outperformed each specific business cycle stage, seeking to optimize returns while minimizing portfolio risk.